Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Wow ! ! Where has the time gone ? Would you believe this is the 42nd edition of the now Lucas Oil Series race .On top of that this event the second longest running Sportsman event held with only the race at Bowling Green, Kentucky running longer .

As for Maple Grove itself - its everything you would expect coming here - clean and well manicured as always .

As for early arrivals today there must have been at least thirty waiting at the gate for their 4pm entrance into the pits - and the gate will be open until 8 pm tonight .

Free carload passes that can be used after 3pm Saturday can be printed from ads on the Maple Grove website .Saturdays action will include Alcohol Funny Cars followed by Bob VanScivers' " Jersey Thunder " jet car .And the evening will be topped off with Maple Groves great fireworks display .

Test n tune all day tomorrow -- and ClassRacer will be there for you ........Later .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good luck, Jack, Have fun with the new ride.
Danny Durham

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

We had a little rain last night, but no bad storms. All is good.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Good morning - Not too terrific so far this AM as its rained several times in the last few hours - we'll keep you up on whats happening .Meanwhile here's a few pics taken and sent to me by cub photographer Penny Bender ...........

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

looks like todays t&t just got canceled

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It came over a text from Div 1.

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It's official - test n tune is cancelled - tomorrow is still right on schedule as of now .

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Mike Bassin -- check your PM's and/or stop by the Duck Tape pits if you're in attendance this weekend. Thanks!

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Raining again !!!

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Bob,

Weather looks bad all the way up till Saturday and if we know the "Grove" any chance of R--- it will happen as we found out last weekend during the .90 Race. Supposed to be 10% slight chance of rain....yeah dodging raindrops all day Saturday...FUN!!!

Hopefully as long as work doesn't kill me I'll be there bright and early Sunday AM to do some promoting and take some pics. Mike if your at the Grove I'll stop by and say hi...I know we've talked on the phone but, always good to meet face to face!

Rob Keister
www.dot90nationals.com
https://www.facebook.com/ThunderInTheMountainsShootout

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Here are a few photos I took as I was being parked. The pits did have a fair amount of cars, even though its only Thursday. There was a race here last week and many stayed.

I did find a few cars out. Denny Ford's D/S 409 62 Biscayne was out of the trailer so it was a great time to do a pit cam. Denny's car is way cool, new cars are nice, but its great to see racers building older cars.

I am uploading the video of Denny' car now, check back soon.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C-TPw67QWs&list=UUIPkN6w3aT8XGT1a4QTqU6g&index=1"]62 Biscayne 409 D Stock - YouTube[/ame]

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Great looking car. This would be my choice over a new one. Hope it runs as good as it looks. Would love to shoot pictures of it myself.
Thanks, Ken.

Butch

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Storming now !!!!

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Storm clouds brewing over Maple Grove this afternoon - good idea to batten down the hatches .On the other hand I'm not ready to run out to Lowe's for some ark building lumber .............

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The rain in the Northeast just never ends. It always seems to wait for the DIV-1 Points Meets especially at the Grove. Hopefully some clearing for the weekend.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack...Here are two things I know:

1. Every year it rains at Maple Grove.
2. You are here every year.

Jim

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Ken - how some in-car action footage from that 62 409 this weekend.

Thanks

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jimmie -- OK, here are two things I know

1) You go home every night

2) This place is like home to me - been coming here since the sixties .

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Rolled in about 12:45 am. There are 2 long lines stacked up from the interior gate back almost to the corner, and working on filling up the field now, with almost another two short rows.

Stray thought... if you're going to have 3-4 staff members stacking the field, why not staff the gate instead? I was told they'll open at 7am, and I could expect to move about 8am. That's ok, I only have two cars to get through tech and be ready by 8:30 am. Mother Nature may help, unfortunately. The crew is usually up early getting ahead of the game though! I ran through small sections of showers periodically throughout the 8.5 hr ride, mostly from WV on east. Saw an Accuweather rar at one rest area, indicating that there would likely be a few more bands moving through tonight. The stacking field is wet, but seems to be holding up so far. There are a number of gravel roads that run perpendicular to the entrance road, so the rigs that continue to pull in get a little extra footing here and there. They are now midway back a third row in the field.

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Good morning members - to say its not pretty here today is an understatement as its just plain ugly outside .Put together 64 degrees with 76% humidity along with a 29.15 barometer and we're past 2000' already at 6:30 AM .With no Sun showing it'll be a few hours till this place dries out . That is if and I say if we have no more showers .

Be back a little later with an update ............Welcome to the start of Summer ! !

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Ended up with four rows in the field overnight. Things are rolling in fairly quickly this morning: in sight of the gate already.

8am is supposed to be the warmest time today. The front moving through is 10 degrees colder. It was 56 in Columbus last night when I talked to my wife, and 64 here. It's coming!

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Jack's up! The wind has picked up, and it has started to rain. Radar shows bands of green all the way down into VA, aimed at running right over us. Weather Channel is calling for 30-40% all day and into the overnight hours. I'd gotten out the California Water Blade last night to dry the car a little, and it looks like the California Car Cover is staying on awhile. Guess I'll whip out yhe Duckbrella and see who else is out in the deluge as they continue to park rigs.

I 've got a nice spot up against the treeline across from the gas pumps... there's a tree right in the middle that I've pulled up to where few others could fit. Love my little truck! I actually did see a couple other open trailers.

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

Actually, I stay out here for the points race.

And it has rained here since the sixties! :)

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Maple Grove forecast........there is a 30% chance that it's already raining.

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Tech was being done in the barn while it was raining this morning. It's just spritzing at the moment and more cars are lining up, so inspectors have moved outside.

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The 62 409 is WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!! Nice car!!!!

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Here's the sign as that guy says - it hasn't rained in half an hour and I hear the Jet running .......Now if only the Sun would come out .

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No Sun Jack, remember "the weepers"!

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Thanks for keeping us posted .Im sitting here on L.I. wanting to make the trip.
Trying to decid do I bring the motorhome or take mt sububan..Also hows the pit area holding up?..Now the only WEEPERS I see is the guy beating the PURE STOCKER thread to death..

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

James - Make the trip already ..........But I'd bring the motorhome just in case .The pits seem to be holding up just fine at this time .The rain we've been getting today is sprinkles that don't amount to much but are enough to keep things damp .

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Where's Billy?

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Bored ? ? You bet we are .And just as we're sitting around the campfire getting ready to toast some marshmellows they called Stock to the lanes ......We'll see if it really happens ......................Yes, in case you're wondering that is a fireplace ! ! ! Its how the other half live .Isn't that right Marc ? ? ?

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We seem to be back on temporary hold .....spritzing a little here and there .Great time for a sandwich or maybe some marshmellows .............

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First Q complete in stock.

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Stock got in their first qualifier- most went faster than expected considering the conditions .Track had good traction for everyone - haven't heard any complaints .SuperStreet is out now but we seem to be on some kind of extended hold - I'm told they are trying to put heat into the track surface but I'm not sure if thats true until I hear it from an official .

All classes except alcohol and the tops will get one run in maybe because cold weather is starting to come to us as this moment its only in the high fifties and dropping fast .Tonight will be a furnace nite for sure .Now I'm hearing the Jet running so the heat thing might be true ..............

Re: Live from Maple Grove - NHRA Lucas Oil Series
 

I hope have some more photos tomorrow. I do have a in car cam from Johnny Gray's A/SA Camaro along with some photos is the staging lanes for the first qualifying run in stock. I did see Ron Infantino is back to his cowl hood on his 69 F/SA Camaro. I guess you have to change engines to change body parts, man these chevy's are confusing.

I will be sure to get lots of photos tomorrow. Todays weather was cold and damp, not many people were out. They only pulled the cars out when they were called to the lanes.

That's just called it for today, I think it was because of water come up from the track. We were in the middle of Super Comp, when it was called. Only Stock, Super Street and some Super Comp made it down the track. I am sure Jack will have more info.

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For those that have somehow missed the Class Car Build section of ClassRacer, may I point you to the Billy Nees Race Cars "Under The Index for Under a Grand" project at http://classracer.com/classforum/showthread.php?t=44903 In our one session today, Billy did it! Read all about it.

Personal fave here this weekend is Bardekoff's gorgeous 5.9 DragPak powered GT/EA Barracuda.

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Managed to get my hands on the Stock qualifing sheet ............

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Now look at those two names at the top of that list! Maybe Jack was sandbagging to protect his roving pit reporter gig?